Pathfinder - Slayer Handbook

Disclaimer

I will use content from the core rules, but will intentionally omit any content not published
on the official Pathfinder SRD due to the
unmanageable volume of non-SRD content, and the wildly varying quality of non-SRD content.
If you would like me to write handbooks for specific content not published on the official
SRD, please email me and I will consider it on a case-by-case
basis. I will use the color coding scheme which has become common among Pathfinder build
handbooks. Also note that many colored items are also links to the Paizo SRD.

Red: Bad, useless options, or options which are extremely situational.

Orange: OK options, or useful options that only apply in rare circumstances

Green: Good options.

Blue: Fantastic options, often essential to the function of your character.

Temporary Note: Pathfinder Unchained and Occult Adventures were
both recently added to the SRD. I'm excited to explore them, and I am actively working
on adding their contents to my collection of handbooks. I appreciate your patience while
I make these changes.

Introduction

The Slayer is one of my absolute favorite classes. It meshes the excellent stealth
of the Rogue with the versatility and combat prowess of the Ranger, includes some of
the best elements of both classes, and improves on some of the Ranger's weak points.
The Slayer is viable in a huge number of combat styles and builds, and can fill an
impressive number of roles without needing to rely on spellcasting or a pet.

Unfortunately, this versatility also makes it very hard to recommend specific
options which work for every Slayer. Normal sections of this handbook have been
intentionally omitted, but will be detailed in specific Slayer build handbooks in the
future.

Hit Points: d10 hit points is standard for martial
characters..

Base Attack Bonus: Full BAB is fantastic considering the
other features of the Slayer.

Saves: Good Fortitude and Reflex saves. Will saves will
be a problem, and without the Ranger's spell list there is little other reason to
invest in Wisdom.

Proficiencies: All simple and martial weapons, medium
armor, and shields. You can use basically anything you would ever want, and if you
really need heaby armor for some reason you can spend a feat on it.

Skills: 6+ skill ranks and a decent skill list. The
Slayer doesn't get Diplomacy or Disable Device by default, but you can get Diplomacy
with a trait if you need to serve as the party's Face, and you can take the Trapfinding
Slayer Talent if you need to serve as the party's Scout.

Studied Target: Favored Enemy wishes it was this
good. The bonus is half as good, but you can use on anything. You need to spend a move
action to study the target, but that drops to a Swift Action at 7th level, and you can
gradually have more studied targets are a time, at which point you should never attack
an un-studied target. You can use this any number of times per day for as long as you
want, which is a bit ridiculous in my opinion. They could have stuck a 3+int/day
limitation on this and I would still call it blue. Don't forget that the bonus applies
to your class abilities, including things like the Assassinate advanced talent.

Track: Situational.

Slayer Talents: The Slayer gets a talent at every even
level, like many classes, but in addition to having a short list of Slayer-specific
talents, you can also pick Ranger Combat Style feats, or Rogue Talents. This allows a
huge amount of versatility and customization. For help with Slayer Talents, see my
Slayer Talents
Breakdown.

Sneak Attack: The Slayer gets a new Sneak Attack die
every 3rd level, so your pile of d6's will be smaller than a Rogue's, but the Slayer
is also considerably less dependent on Sneak Attack for damage, and with full BAB the
slayer can make enough attacks (and hit with them) to make up for the deficit.

Slayer's Advance: Situational. At this level you should
have plenty of other options for movement, especially if you have a Wizard handy.

Quarry: The tracking thing is situational, but you get
a bonus to attacks which stacks with Studied Target, and you automatically confirm
critical threats. Grab a Keen Scimitar, some Critical Focus feats, and go mess someone
up. There is no limit on uses per day, but you need to wait an hour between quarries,
so save this for the biggest target in a fight, then take a lunch break between fights.

Improved Quarry: Quarry as a free action instead of a
standard. Now you can study the target, declare your Quarry, and Assassinate it in
two rounds.

Master Slayer: Somewhat redundant with the Assassinate
Advanced Talent, but more versatile. Don't forget that you Studied Target bonus applies
to the DC, so you should be looking at a 25+int DC, which will rival your Wizard's
scariest save or die spells.

Abilities

The Slayer is exceptionally versatile, and your choice of abilities depends heavily
on what you intend to do.

Str: Crucial for damage on melee characters and archers.

Dex: With medium armor, you will want decent Dexterity.

Con: Hit points and saves. Slayers are a martial character,
so you should expect to draw a lot of hits.

Int: Skill ranks, and increases the DC of Assassinate,
but that's about it.

Wis: Only needed for Will saves, but Will saves will
be a problem if you dump it.

Cha: The Slayer could be a Face if you take a trait to
get Diplomacy as a class skill, but if you don't want to be a Face dump to 7. Studied
Target can compensate for dumping Charisma if you absolutely need to be social. However,
there are a lot of Slayer-only feats which depend on Intimidate, and therefore Charisma.

Races

The Slayer is a very Flexible class, and can function with a variety of builds.

Dwarf: As always, the Dwarf is a fantastic option for a
durable melee character. Darkvision is fantastic for stealth, but the Dwarf favored
class bonus is worthless.

Elf: Bonuses to Dexterity and Intelligence make for a
great Slayer, but the Elf's other racial abilities are wasted by the Slayer's lack
of spellcasting. Alternate racial traits can improve the Elf's viability as a Slayer.
The Elf favored class bonus is helpful for pursuing and ambushing a studied target,
but it's probably not worth more than a skill rank.

Gnome: The Slayer is too much of a martial character for
the Gnome. The Gnome favored class bonus offers extra Slayer Talents, which is tempting,
but it's still not enough to make the Gnome a good choice.

Half-Elf: The Half-Elf offers a flexible ability bonus
and some elf abilities. Alternate racial abilities offer some additional customization
which can work really well for the Slayer. The Half-Elf favored class bonus is garbage,
so take the Human favored class bonus for additional talents.

Half-Orc: A flexible ability bonus is always nice, and
Darkvision is great for sneaky Stalkers. The racial bonus to Intimidate is great because
Stalkers have so many Stalker-only feats that work for fear stacking. The Half-Orc
favored class bonus is garbage, so take the Human bonus instead to get extra talents.

Halfling: The Halfling is your best bet for a small
Slayer. A bonus to Dexterity is good for finesse or ranged builds, and the Halfling's
racial abilities are good for any stealthy character. The Halfling favored class bonus
adds a Dodge bonus against your Studied Target, which is fantastic as you gain the
ability to study more targets at once.

Human: Always the gold standard, a flexible ability bonus
and a feat work for any build. The favored class bonus grants additional Slayer Talents,
allowing even more options.

Skills

Acrobatics (Dex): Excellent for getting out of bad
places in combat, but situational because you should be able to stand up to
whatever your enemies are dishing out in melee.

Bluff (Cha): Required if you plan to be the party's
Face.

Climb (Str): Too situational.

Disguise (Cha): Too situational.

Heal (Wis): Better on someone with better Wisdom,
but this is your only healing option without dropping money on potions.

Intimidate (Cha): Required if you plan to be the
party's Face, and essential for fear-stacking builds.

Knowledge (dungeoneering) (Int): One of the most
important knowledge skills.

Knowledge (geography) (Int): Situational.

Knowledge (local) (Int): Often helpful for plot
purposes, and for identifying all of those weird humanoids.

Perception (Wis): The most rolled skill in the game.

Ride (Dex): Only important if you plan to go for
a Mounted Combat build, and there are better options than the Slayer for Mounted
Combat builds.

Sense Motive (Wis): Helpful if you're the Face, or
if your party's Face has poor Wisdom.

Stealth (Dex): Essential for any Scout.

Survival (Wis): Situational.

Swim (Str): Too situational.

Multi-Classing and Prestige Classes

The Slayer is already a fusion of the Rogue and Ranger, so there is little reason
to multiclass unless you have a very specific build in mind.